Dhenkanal: Congress party today observed a dawn to dusk bandh at Bhuban in the district demanding more compensation to the families of those who were killed in the bus tragedy occurred yesterday.
Rs 20 lakh should be given each to the deceased’s family while injured should be paid Rs 5 lakh apart from free treatment, the protesters said. The party also demanded immediate replacement of all live wires hanging in dangerous condition.
The party activists staged a road blockade on NH 53 near Kali Bazar in the morning bringing vehicular communication to a grinding halt. Shops and business establishments remained close. Security has been beefed up in the town and adequate police forces have been deployed to avert any untoward incident.
The, ill-fated bus ‘Sanyasi’ was travelling from Cuttack to Birasal near Kamakhyanagar with 40-45 passengers on board yesterday. It came in contact with 11-kv live wire when it took a diversion from the main road due to a road blockade by locals following death of person in a truck accident.
Six were electrocuted while 25 others sustained severe burn injuries. Around eight critically injured were shifted to Cuttack for better treatment while others are undergoing treatment at Bhuban and dhenkanal hospitals.
Bus driver Pitambara Naik, who was absconding soon after the incident, was arrested later in night.